Ex-Lawmaker Pleads Guilty To Drunken Driving

Mecklenborg Resigned Post After Arrest Revealed

A former Ohio lawmaker has pleaded guilty to drunken driving earlier this year.

Robert Mecklenborg, a Cincinnati-area Republican, was arrested April 23 on a headlight violation in Greendale, Ind., and a police officer said he appeared intoxicated.

Records showed Mecklenborg failed several field sobriety tests during the traffic stop, and police said a woman who was not his wife was riding in the car.

A judge ordered a blood test that showed Mecklenborg's blood-alcohol content level at 0.097, which is above the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle. The toxicology report also showed Mecklenborg tested positive for Viagra.

Mecklenborg resigned July 17, about two weeks after the arrest was first reported by News 5.

After initially pleading not guilty, Mecklenborg agreed Monday to plead guilty to driving while intoxicated.

Attorney Robert Ewbank said Mecklenborg is expected to enter his plea Thursday in a Dearborn County court, and he said his client will likely be sentenced to a year's probation and could have his driver's license suspended in Indiana.

Copyright 2002 by Channel Cincinnati.
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